Sewing machine for a child
 

I am thinking of buying a new sewing machine for my 11 year old granddaughter. She has very little experience, just a little sewing with me, and a class on sewing a pillowcase I have an old Elna 1400 that I bought used a long time ago that I planned on using for her, but it not currently working. I am looking at the CS6000i Brother for her. Do you have any thoughts or suggestions.

I like the Janome 2212. Very simple machine with stretch stitches and it is very sturdy. I'm also looking at the Janome Mod 19. I need to replace my old worn out DSM and I tend to like simple mechanical intuitive stuff.

I think a Brother is perfect! I know most have a speed control nowadays, which I think is a great feature for kids. The CS6000i is a nice machine for sure.

I started teaching sewing to children after school over 6 years ago and was looking for machines to use. This brother 6000i was on my list. I ended up with janome 7330. These are awesome machines! I have eight! I've gone from one class of eight students to eight classes of five students. Currently I have four days/classes of 6 students. My machines are still going strong. Every year a couple of students get sewing machines for Christmas. A few years ago a student got the brother 6000i. I had the mom bring it in to help teach her daughter how to use it. Lets just say you get what you pay for. It looks great but it is a plastic-inside machine. It is very light weight, easily half the weight of my janomes. The problem with these kinds of machines is tension goddess wacko easily. I would not recommend it.
Anita

Auto correct on my post: should say 'goes wacko'

Regarding Brother machines - I can't speak to the one you mention but I have 4 basic Brother machines 2 at my house and one at each of my sons. They have never and I mean never had a tension issue. They sew right out of the box and sew through anything including fake fur. I am speaking from my own personal experience with these machines. And I'm talking low end. My oldest one is about 15 years old. Newest is about 4 years old.

I was thinking "No wonder I'm having trouble; I didn't pay homage to the "tension goddess"!

I have 3 Babylock. "Eliazabeths" . I bought 1 new and the others used for around $500.
The only problem I have had is with ,operator error.

we(my DDs and I) have several different Brother models from WM. They are good little machines, I have sewn thru layers of decorator fabric with a 6000i without issue. I would not hesitate to buy another-in fact I probably will be buying another soon cause oldest GD has taken an interest in sewing.

I do all my piecing and quilting on a Janome 7318, which is a step down from the 7330. Mine is mechanical, has fewer stitches, and is a little cheaper than the 7330, but I've been using it for 6 years now and it's still doing great. It has a 6.5in harp and was well worth the money ($250 on Amazon when I purchased). It takes any kind of thread I can throw at it, including cheap serger thread, and I've never had a problem with it. I've done over a dozen quilts from start to finish, of all sizes from lap size to king size on it, and I would highly recommend it. Generic feet (cheap) fit on this machine too.

Brother provides a quality machine at very reasonable prices. I used to write user manuals for computer systems. Based on my experience of both writing and testing user manuals, the Brother user manuals are among the best, most easily understood user manuals I have ever read.

Having said that, I haven't read the Janome manuals. Their might be better.

Absolutely agree, Stitchnripper.

I would keep it simple. Avoid computerized! Very expensive to fix if board goes out.

The tension on mine low end brothers have been fine for years never had an iota of tension issues. My machine gets moderate use for the last 7 years, goes through thick layers and yes I got it at walmart. Why do some think there are tension issues on them. Tension is only an issue when you never learn how to adjust it. I personally think they are great beginner machines. I learned on one and still using the brand today. I have several brothers

I would go to a thrift store and get an older Singer....not computerized. They last a long time and hold up to a lot of wear.

I think some of the thrift stores are onto us, the last time I spotted an oldish machine (70s Kenmore) the Salvation Army wanted $200 for it. I'm sure it was a good machine but I wasn't going to pay that. It needed a good service visit too which would have been nearly another $100.

I have to agree with everyone that has recommended the Brother CS6000i. I use the one left to me by my sister as a take to class machine. Have not had any problems with it. My sister liked it because you can use it without the foot pedal and it can be set to different speeds. It has also been used by my daughters 6th grade students to make baby quilts as a class project. No problems and most of the students had never used a machine, it is easy to learn to use.

my oldest grand wanted to learn & at age of 8 i started her on my featherwieght and loaned her one of my older necchis ..it had speed control & was very easy to use. she did great with it. made doll clothes a a couple of doll quilts before she drifted off into knitting & crochet. she's still sewing, she'll be 11 in april, but right now yarn is where her allowance goes :)

Check out Eversewn Sparrow machines. Excellent and all metal frame. The beginner model Sparrow 15 is under $200. They are excellent machines, the high end Sparrow 30 has all the newest features and is under $500.

The Eversewn Sparrow 30 is the machine I have looked at, I am thinking of buying a machine for classes. My LQS sells them, all metal and they told me they were developed by Phillip Ueltschj of the Berina family, these are quality machines starting around $150 for basic. The Sparrow 30 has needle up down, thread cutter, needle threaded and more for $400.

I have purchased two new machines and hated both of them. I keep going back to my vintage machines. When you turn them off, they don't reset. When I decide to sew, I want to sit down and start sewing -- I do not want to have to reset my machine. My first purchased machine when I wanted to sew again was a 301A, for which I paid $75 at a repair shop.

I have nothing against vintage machines. I have a lot of them. But to think when you want to sew just hop on over to the local thrift store and pick up one in good working order for a good price has just not been my experience. Sometimes there is one and sometimes it is in good working order meaning it can be serviced to sew well either by me or someone else. Sometimes it is a rusted pile of crap. So,times it is easier and faster to eat a new one. Mechanical newer machines keep their settings. I have a few of those too.

Well, she's 11? Interests are so varied at that age, and beyond, that I would not consider investing in a sewing machine of any value---- vintage, least of all....maintenance on those is required.
if anything..there is that little kittie or some such sewing machine designed for children-that would be my choice. When she visits you, let her still "learn" on your real machine, or bring along "her own" and if as she matures, and still shows an interest, then a better investment would be justified. Jmho

My choice would be the Janome Jem.

I agree that an older Singer would be a great machine. I have laughingly said that if I had a house fire, my 1958 401A would be the first item I'd rescue.

When I was a 11, we had a house fire. My mom rescued her featherweight and the phone book. When the fire died out that's all we had EXCEPT kind neighbors.

As to which machine to buy for an 11-year-old. I agree with the Janome Jem.

i would avoid a "toy" machine.

and consider something that is relatively portable..

other than that, i don' t know what is currently available.

I have a Janome Gem that I take as my travel machine that could be a good fit. It is small and portable, has the basics and is a mechanical machine.

I would not put any money into a "childs" machine. Usually they are chain stitch, which ravels easily. They are too easy to get out of time and therefore frustrate the young sewer. I was lucky, I have a toy machine but I was able to quickly move onto my mother's machine. The toy now decorates my sewing room.

Thanks everyone for your input! I still haven't decided, but really want adjustable speed for her. Her interests do change a lot, so I need to consider that and how much I want to spend. She learned on my Featherweight.

Barb

Oh my, did she ever say why the phone book?

Onebyone. Are these lightweight? Considering this for a class machine but has to be easy to pack? Tired of hauling my Bernina.

I love my Sparrow 30. It works very well and is lightweight. It also comes with it's own table. I use it as a class machine. They are made by Brewer, which is owned by Bernina. There is also a beginning quilting set available.

The Hello Kitty machines are lockstitch machines made by Janome.

Cari

I think you are on the right track. A simple, inexpensive machine that will function well.
If she shows a GREAT interest, a better machine could be a great birthday gift.
Congratulations on teaching your young granddaughter to sew.
Mike

I had the Brother cs 6000i, a really great machine, my granddaughter in her twenties also liked it so I gave it to her.
I did start off a younger granddaughter, about 8 yrs old at the time on it but she is a pedal to the metal girl so she had a problem, she was just too rough for it, more her fault than the machine's.
Then I tried her on the Janome Jem Silver (ASG Anniversary machine) same as the Janome Jem Gold, a perfect fit. The machine is simpler, study, very easy. She did well on it, still loves sewing & going to Stitch Camp with me (she is now almost 14). I can't recommend that super machine enough, love it. The Necchi Travel Mate is also the same machine, made by Janome, love that machine also.

I bought my granddaughter a Hello Kitty Machine made by Janome. It is the same as a Janome Jem. There is a Hello Kitty 1/2 size machine and that is a toy. Easy to tell the difference. Her machine is still sewing great and it's 12 years old. I bought this one: https://www.janome.com/en/machines/s...6-hello-kitty/
The newer ones are now full size with more features.

I LOVE my Eversewn Sparrow. I take it to classes with me and it's light enough to carry but not all plastic. If you can't find them you can order them on Amazon. After I got mine, I think a dozen of my friends all have them too. We ALL love them. It also has the slow/fast adjustment. A few times I started having trouble with tension, only to find it wasn't really tension - I needed to clean my bobbin area. It went right back to being perfect.

I also bought one of these. For the most part it was an easy beginning machine. My only problem was little ones push the foot pedal pretty fast - there is no adjustment for slow/fast.

Just an idea: Yesterday, I bought a clearanced Brother CE1008 for $45 at Wal-Mart. I have 3 girls ages 14-5. None really have shown a great interest in sewing. I bought the Brother as a machine to get their feet wet. Really can't go wrong with $45. (Our chinese dinner costs just that same amount last night). I haven't taken it out of the box yet, so no reviews, but I also purchased a Brother as my main machine (it was my third sewing machine I bought myself) and I Loved it the Best of all. I also bought it from Wal-Mart and it has lasted me years and never a bother. If she decides to keep at it, you can always upgrade.